Bill Blackbeard (1926–2011)

Believe it or not, I picked this volume up for a measly dollar at the local library's annual sale. Some massive brain therein apparently goes thru their volumes and decides what they no long need, want, or feel is essential any more. Most probably, their way to decide which is to stay and which is to go is by the number of checkouts in the past few years. Well, what can I say. This is the publics loss and my gain.
A wonderful historical collection of newspaper comics, many of which even this show more old man doesn't remember. All comics are discussed, including their context and how they related to the world at their time. Some are obviously quite politically incorrect, but an accurate history will necessarily include much of what makes most folks blush and gulp today.
I don't really believe that we are all that sensitive, but for the sake of fitting in, most of us will continue to pretend so.
So when did we begin to depend on cartoons to be honest, revealing, and relaying truth to the masses? Well, probably right from the very beginning!
This book is an essential. No question. show less

A sumptuous collection of newspaper comic strips, many in color, and beautifully illustrated and reproduced. Very little annotation until the last several pages, which are an annotated index of the comic, in alphabetical order. Beautiful strips, little hard reference information.

This is a lavishly illustrated over-sized book; over 500 illustrations spread across 240 pages! The reader is immediately drawn in with nearly 40 pages of drawings from the original American publications of the stories, both in magazines and newspapers. A few circa 1891 drawings by anonymous illustrators are followed by three-dozen of Frederic Dorr Steele’s drawings from The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
Just as Sidney Paget is England’s foremost Holmes illustrator, so is Dorr Steele for show more America. After a sprinkling of other early American drawings, we are treated to seventeen marvelous pages of Dorr Steele’s illustrations, many in color. His color covers for Collier’s are absolutely stunning. Other drawings make up the rest of the section; many of interest.
The next section of the book focuses on Holmes on screen, stage and radio. There are some great reproductions here that you have probably never seen before. The William Gillette and John Barrymore fans will certainly be pleased.
The book continues on with advertisements, parodies, vintage Sherlockiana (more Gillette and Dorr Steele!) and a plethora of cartoons. This is all followed by a useful index.
Any fan of the visual Sherlock Holmes in America will rate this book highly. And it definitely rises to much greater than “coffee tableâ€? status.
Reviewed by: Bob Byrne, July 2003 show less

World War II begins. Easy saves an oil field for a beautiful girl, and rescues another from kidnapers. Wash and Easy contend with German spies and saboteurs. Includes Sunday strips.